
Odisha has introduced a new rule requiring all tourism-related businesses in the state to obtain a mandatory certification within three months. The move is aimed at standardising services and ensuring quality across…
Odisha has introduced a new rule requiring all tourism-related businesses in the state to obtain a mandatory certification within three months. The move is aimed at standardising services and ensuring quality across hotels, homestays, travel agencies, and other tourism operators.

The Odisha government announced that businesses failing to secure the certification within the stipulated period could face penalties or suspension of operations. The certification process will be overseen by the state tourism department, which will also conduct inspections to verify compliance.
The new regulation is part of a broader push to boost tourism and improve Odisha's reputation as a travel destination. The government has urged all stakeholders to complete the certification process promptly to avoid disruptions.
The certification mandate brings Odisha in line with similar quality-control frameworks used in tourism-heavy states such as Kerala and Rajasthan, where graded accreditation helps filter unregistered operators. For a state that has invested heavily in promoting its coastline, temples, and tribal tourism, the rule targets the informal sector that currently accounts for a large share of accommodation and travel services. The tourism department will need to process applications from thousands of small operators within the three-month window, and the real test will be whether enforcement follows through with the promised inspections and penalties. The number of applications actually received by the deadline will signal how seriously the industry takes the change.
Source: odishatv.in
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